Common Black Sprite

Scientific Name
Celaenorrhinus proxima
MABILLE, 1877
Specie in
Family
Common Black Sprite
Celaenorrhinus proxima, Bobiri forest, Ghana – Adrian Hoskins

Introduction

There are about 130 species in the genus Celaenorrhinus, of which 24 are found in the Neotropical region, 50 are found in various parts of eastern Asia, and 45 are Afrotropical.

Celaenorrhinus proxima is one of the commonest and most widespread species, being found from Guinea to Uganda and western Tanzania.

Habitats

This species is found in rainforest, including degraded and secondary forest, and can be found in low numbers along logging roads, in glades, and around the edges of clearings.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplant is Mimulopsis ( Acanthaceae ).

Adult behaviour

Both sexes can be found early in the morning, when they bask on bushes or low herbage. They are very fast on the wing, but not nervous in disposition, unlike their hyperactive relative galenus ! If disturbed they usually fly and settle on another leaf a few metres away, but males invariably return to their original perches. I have not observed either sex at flowers, or seen males mud-puddling.

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Butterfly of
Scientific Name
Celaenorrhinus proxima
by
MABILLE, 1877
Family
SubFamily
PYRGINAE
Tribe
N/A
SubTribe
N/A

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